Gypsum industry news

Belgium: Gyproc Belgium has installed a new mill to grind natural gypsum at its Kallo wallboard plant. The unit will continue to use flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum sourced from coal-fired power stations but the company is preparing for future changes in supply, according to the HLN newspaper.

Belgium: Etex’s Building Performance division’s sales revenue rose by 5.35% year-on-year to Euro1.53bn in 2017 from Euro1.45bn in 2016. Strong performance in the UK, France and Germany contributed to this result in Europe. In Latin America growing markets were noted in Argentina, Brazil and Peru. The group acquired full control of Spanish gypsum wallboard manufacturer Pladur in 2017.

Overall, the group reported that its revenue rose by 4.5% on a like-for-like basis to Euro2.79bn across all business lines. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation rose by 7% to Euro432m from Euro404m.

Belgium: Serge Azais has retired from Knauf Group. The 67-year old’s most recent posting was as the chief executive officer (CEO) for the Western Europe and Latin America Region. He has been succeeded by Dominique Bossan, a French national, who was previously responsible for the development of the Central Europe Region for Knauf Insulation.

Azais was successively the Managing Director of Isolava in Belgium, then Managing Director of Knauf Belgium before joining the Knauf Group Management Committee in 2010. Azaïs also took over responsibility for the European Gypsum Industry as president of Eurogypsum in 2006 and 2007. He retires after spending more than 40 years in the plaster industry, including 27 years with the Knauf Group.

Belgium/US: MoistTech and Belgium’s Weighing & Inspection have announced a strategic partnership to provide moisture measurement capabilities for manufactured materials to customers in the Benelux region. The partnership is intended to improve productivity and streamline operations for customers by implementing near-infrared (NIR) technology for moisture measurement and control. An initial primary focus will be developing a joint marketing capability.

“MoistTech is excited to partner with Weighing & Inspection to enhance our delivery of new features to the moisture measurement industry. This will enable us to become more efficient and reduce costs for a larger audience,” said Adrian Fordham, President of MoistTech.

Belgium: Etex has reported 'top line' growth for its Etex Building Performance division, particularly in France, Poland, and the UK. Outside of Europe the group said that its South Africa market is suffering from political instability whilst sales in Peru grew, thanks to a new housing concept that was successfully launched.

Overall the group's half-year revenue rose by 3.9% year-on-year on an adjusted basis to Euro1.41bn in the first half of 2017. It reported sales of Euro1.48n in the same period in 2016 but the sale of its ceramic floor and wall tiles business in Latin America in September 2016 had an impact upon its results. Its operating income rose by 4.2% to Euro125m from Euro119m.

In July 2017 Etex reach an agreement to become the majority shareholder of Pladur, a Spanish manufacturer of gypsum products. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to complete by the end of 2017.

Belgium: Revenue from Etex's Building Performance division rose slightly to Euro1.44bn in 2016 from Euro1.43bn in 2015. The division produces gypsum wallboard as well as fibre cement boards and other dry construction materials. The group said that it had posted sound results in 2016, particularly in Europe, its largest market, where it performed within expectations.

However, the company's overall revenue fell by 5.6% year-on-year to Euro2.88bn from Euro3.05bn. It blamed this on the sale of its ceramics floor and wall tiles business in Latin America and unfavourable exchange rates. On a like-for-like basis it said that its revenue rose by 1.5% in the period. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 10.4% to Euro404m from Euro366m.

Belgium: Etex's sales revenue has fallen by 2.8% year-on-year to Euro1.48bn in the first half of 2016 from Euro1.52bn in the same period in 2015. However, on a like-for-like basis the group said that its revenue rose by 2.6% when exchange rates and scope were taken into account. Its profit fell by 12% to Euro55m from Euro63m.

The group reported that markets in Germany and France remain weak due to manufacturing capacity being downsized. In Latin American countries growth was realised with the exception of Brazil. The profitability of this growth was under pressure from exchange rates and increased competition.

Belgium: Etex's cladding and building board sales revenue rose by 5% year-on-year to Euro1.44bn in 2015 from Euro1.38bn in 2014. It attributed the growth to a strong market in the UK, stabilised performance in construction markets in Germany and the Benelux region and recovery in most of South America.

Overall the company reported that its revenue rose by 2.3% to Euro3.05bn from Euro2.99bn. However, its profit fell by 60% to Euro37m from Euro95m. This was attributed to restructuring in Argentina, France and Germany and impairment charges. The cladding and building board business represents 47% of Etex's building products portfolio. It built three gypsum wallboard plants, in Peru, Brazil and Romania, in 2015.

Belgium: Etex has announced the addition of Caroline Thijssen, Guillaume Voortman and its CEO Paul Van Oyen to its Board of Directors. In addition, Marc Nolet de Brauwere, Amaury Pelgrims de Bigard and Philium bvba, represented by Philippe Coens, have left the board.

Caroline Thijssen is Head of Talent Banking and Management Dynamics at BNP Paribas Fortis. She gained a Master's degree in Economics and Management at the UCL, Université catholique de Louvain. She started her career in the financial world at BNP Paribas Fortis, with a two-year international management traineeship. Then, she fulfilled the roles of Deputy Branch Manager, Branch Manager and Group Branch Manager, before joining the HR department. She became a member of Etex's Board of Directors on 27 May 2015.

Guillaume Voortman is Head of Finance and Administration at Tropicore — a trading company for tropical commodities, such as rubber. He holds a Master's degree in Applied Economics and Management, which he obtained at the Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis in Brussels and the UCL. He also gained an Advanced Master's degree in Financial Economics at the KU Leuven University. He began his career as equity trader at ING Bank Belgium. Afterwards, he moved to ING Bank Netherlands as Associate Relationship Manager, before joining Tropicore. He entered Etex's Board of Directors on 27 May 2015.

Paul Van Oyen has been attending the Board meetings since he was appointed CEO of Etex on 1 January 2015. On 27 May, he became a member of the Board in the role of Managing Director.